Spring Break
Freshmen assess advising
Caitlin Gray
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News
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Drexel University students can evaluate the school's academic advising anonymously in a survey on the Undergraduate Student Government Association's web site until Dec. 10.
The 20-question survey asks general questions about a student's experience with their advisor in areas such as availability, method of communication, expectation, and familiarity. The USGA, along with the Office of Academic Advising, Retention and Diversity, will compile the results during finals week. At the end of the survey, students have the option of entering their e-mail address to participate in a focus group.
USGA President Jeff Gardosh said that he hopes to get a wide selection of students who are passionate about particular topics for focus groups that will meet during the winter term. While the survey is intended to get a general idea of students' opinions, the focus groups will highlight particular topics that concern students.
Toni Torres, executive director of Academic Advising, Retention and Diversity, said that the results of the surveys will be passed along to the advisors in order to help them better serve students.
"We want to make sure that students are able to easily find and engage with their advisors," Torres said. "And given the critical role of advisors in the student experience, we want to ensure that students are getting what they need from their advisor, whether that is course selection, discussion about their major or long even long-term goals. With better understanding of student needs, we can tailor advising seminars to prepare advisors to address those needs."
Stephanie Sullivan, a 2007 alumna who served as the academic affairs assembly in USGA last year, worked closely on this project when it was developed in the spring.
Sullivan currently works for the University in the Office of Admissions and was thus able to work as a liaison between current USGA members and the OAARD.
"The primary motivation for this survey is the recognition by the Provost's Office and the USGA that academic advising has room for improvement," Sullivan said. "It is our hope that we can use the results from this survey to recognize what students feel are the best practices for academic advising and to make them available to all students in all undergraduate programs."
The 20-question survey asks general questions about a student's experience with their advisor in areas such as availability, method of communication, expectation, and familiarity. The USGA, along with the Office of Academic Advising, Retention and Diversity, will compile the results during finals week. At the end of the survey, students have the option of entering their e-mail address to participate in a focus group.
USGA President Jeff Gardosh said that he hopes to get a wide selection of students who are passionate about particular topics for focus groups that will meet during the winter term. While the survey is intended to get a general idea of students' opinions, the focus groups will highlight particular topics that concern students.
Toni Torres, executive director of Academic Advising, Retention and Diversity, said that the results of the surveys will be passed along to the advisors in order to help them better serve students.
"We want to make sure that students are able to easily find and engage with their advisors," Torres said. "And given the critical role of advisors in the student experience, we want to ensure that students are getting what they need from their advisor, whether that is course selection, discussion about their major or long even long-term goals. With better understanding of student needs, we can tailor advising seminars to prepare advisors to address those needs."
Stephanie Sullivan, a 2007 alumna who served as the academic affairs assembly in USGA last year, worked closely on this project when it was developed in the spring.
Sullivan currently works for the University in the Office of Admissions and was thus able to work as a liaison between current USGA members and the OAARD.
"The primary motivation for this survey is the recognition by the Provost's Office and the USGA that academic advising has room for improvement," Sullivan said. "It is our hope that we can use the results from this survey to recognize what students feel are the best practices for academic advising and to make them available to all students in all undergraduate programs."
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